Affluenza Exhibition
The Affluenza Exhibition is a multi-disciplinary visual arts exhibition, supported by series of talks and events taking place in Clerkenwell, London from the 19th – 28th March 2009.
The Term affluenza refers to ‘the disease of affluence’ as detailed in Oliver James’ book on the subject. He describes it as a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more. By placing a high value on money, possessions, physical and social appearances, and fame, we fail to distinguish between what we need and what we want.
The project set out to inspire debate and awareness about the impact of consumer values on society, and a series of talks and events running concurrently with the exhibition suggests some constructive alternatives for the future.
The work on display was selected by a high profile art industry panel, comprising Jonathan Barnbrook of Barnbrook Design, Silvia Sgualdini from the Lisson Gallery, Michael Czerwinski of the Design Museum, and Project Manager Hege Saebjornsen. Over 30 international artists are represented.
The exhibition is set out in 10,000+ square feet in the basement of an imposing building in Clerkenwell. This labyrinthine Victorian industrial space seems apposite as a time-marker in the development of consumerism.
The selected artists demonstrate a variety of approaches to the issue, and there are some powerful, provocative messages. Alexandra Valy's 'You only have to believe' doubles as a monument to pointless spending and a trophy of a longed-for end to waste.'Circumrotation' by Chong Boon Pok is plain terrifying in its implications for everyone who is relentlessly on the mill. I had already recently come across Liv Pennington's work. In her 'The Standard Package Part II: Partial Recall' she sent photographs of herself as a toddler out to a number of online retouchers, with the brief "please do a pageant makeover". This eloquent group, for me, speaks volumes. Robin Clare's delicate paintings show defunct, dead appliances, once important parts of family life. These redundant items now populate the streets with new lives as vagrants, 'faces' turned to the wall, as though ashamed of their uselessness or trying to escape inevitable destruction. Oh, you'll see my work too.
The event has clearly struck a chord - Critic's Choice in Time Out and the most clicked event on their website for example. The exhibition runs until 28 March, and look out for the talks and events on the Affluenza website.
http://www.theaffluenzaexhibition.org
